Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | 28 April 2026: The East African Business Council (EABC) participated in the STCC – Swiss Arbitration Conference 2026, held under the theme “Managing Commercial Disputes and Dispute Risk in Swiss–Tanzanian Business Relationships.”
Representing EABC, Ms. Hidaya Mkwizu spoke on arbitration in East Africa, emphasizing the need for strong, predictable, and enforceable dispute resolution systems to support cross-border trade and investor confidence. She underscored that effective arbitration frameworks are critical for reducing commercial risks and strengthening regional competitiveness.
Benefits for EABC Members and Businesses
The conference discussions underscored key principles for strengthening commercial resilience and reducing dispute-related risks in cross-border trade:
- Arbitration should be integrated into overall business and risk management strategy, not treated as a last resort.
- Contracts must be grounded in real operational and cross-border risks to ensure practical enforceability.
- Multi-tier dispute resolution mechanisms (negotiation, mediation, arbitration) are essential for efficient and cost-effective resolution of disputes.
- Clear and enforceable cross-border dispute resolution provisions are critical for protecting commercial interests across jurisdictions.
The conference reinforced that efficient and predictable dispute resolution systems enhance legal certainty, reduce investment risk, and improve the ease of doing business across borders. For EABC members, this translates into stronger contract enforcement, lower operational uncertainty, and greater confidence to expand trade and investment within the EAC region and beyond.
